closet
Americannoun
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closets
plural
-
a small room, enclosed recess, or cabinet for storing clothing, food, utensils, etc.
-
a small private room, especially one used for prayer, meditation, etc.
-
a state or condition of secrecy or carefully guarded privacy.
Some conservatives remain in the closet except on election day. Gay liberation has encouraged many gay people to come out of the closet.
adjective
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private; secluded.
-
suited for use or enjoyment in privacy.
closet reflections; closet prayer.
-
engaged in private study or speculation; speculative; unpractical.
a closet thinker with no practical experience.
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being or functioning as such in private; secret.
a closet anarchist.
verb (used with object)
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closets,
present (3rd person singular)
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closeted,
past participle, past
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closeting
present participle
noun
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a small cupboard or recess
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a small private room
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short for water closet
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(modifier) private or secret
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(modifier) suited or appropriate for use in private
closet meditations
-
(modifier) based on or devoted to theory; speculative
a closet strategist
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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closetsimple
-
closetssimple
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have closetedperfect
-
has closetedperfect
-
am closetingprogressive
-
are closetingprogressive
-
is closetingprogressive
-
have been closetingperfect progressive
-
has been closetingperfect progressive
Past
-
closetedsimple
-
had closetedperfect
-
was closetingprogressive
-
were closetingprogressive
-
had been closetingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of closet
1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French, equivalent to clos close (noun) + -et -et
Vocabulary lists containing closet
List 1
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"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The primary suite offers its own private escape, complete with vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, and a remodeled walk-in closet.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
Trend report: Here’s what one tween is raiding from her stylist mom’s closet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
“His closet is color-coded and everything is in the right spot,” said Mitch, whose girlfriend, Isabella, also lives with them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
In addition to checking off my goals, I was also heavily encouraged to shop for my bird’s closet, furnish his apartment, and complete the in-app quests.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
Once more she went to her closet, but this time she came out with a plastic steering wheel.
From "Wolfie & Fly" by Cary Fagan
Some retirees seem to keep closets full of new outfits, as if maintaining workplace identities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Each of these artists’ closets is a source of self-expression.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Elsewhere in the home, there is a large office space and two glamorous walk-in closets.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
The property also features a sizable media room, an expansive primary suite—with his-and-her closets and a spalike bathroom—and a playroom with its own stage and foam pit.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
Was she supposed to avoid all closets unless specifically told to open them?
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
The book’s first section is told in through Eddy’s journal entries as he describes the contentious rehearsals that bring together a group of closeted Kingstonians of different ages, classes and levels of sexual candor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
"I've grown up around this and I've seen it all from my own perspective. I think that's what I'm so proud to see. There was almost a time when you were a closeted Arsenal fan."
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
“It kind of siphoned all of that pent-up, closeted stuff that you hold back, that you couldn’t freely express,” she said.
From Slate ● May 4, 2026
And in sequences in a film within the film alongside Jennifer Lopez, a consummate entertainer here, Tonatiuh transforms into a stylish, closeted man orbiting Lopez’s fictional screen diva Ingrid Luna.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025
But this envy-streaked pleasure Alice closeted, and never let the girl see how she admired those ready-for-bed-in-the-street clothes.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
That there exists so recent and clear an example of purposeful Hollywood closeting helps explain, to a certain extent, how these narratives can take hold.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2019
You haven’t been able to keep up with your regular phone calls because of the pain of closeting yourself.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2019
Soon he was closeting himself in his room listening raptly and endlessly to John Gielgud reciting Clarence’s speech from “Richard III,” desperately attempting to obliterate his Jersey accent.
From New York Times ● Apr. 12, 2012
“We have no visibility, people are dying, and this whole world is just closeting everything.”
From Washington Post
No more closeting;, she could have one part of Old Chao, Janis and the children another.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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